Train attack: ‘terrorists’ commander didn’t pressurize me with a marriage proposal

Lois Azurfa, the youngest of the 23 passengers on the hijacked Abuja-Kaduna train, was recently freed. John, whose forced marriage one of the terrorists’ commanders was reportedly preparing, claims that the proposal was just an offer that she turned down.

The commander of the terrorists never compelled Miss John to accept the marriage proposal, according to Miss John, who spoke yesterday from her hospital bed.

Miss John claimed yesterday that the terrorists had made marriage proposals to several of the female hostages, but each of them had declined. Nobody was ever made to accept by force.

Since they were freed on Wednesday, Lois, who had undergone a blood transfusion and was still in the hospital, said that while she had believed she would never leave the terrorists’ hideout, now that she is free, she has forgiven her captors.
The terrorists took our phones from the scene of the incident, she claimed.

We had to walk a ways that evening before the bikes arrived. They then drove us to our accommodation for the night. Before arriving at their main camp, where they dumped us off, we traveled for four days.

“We prepare meals both in the morning and at night. Twice a day, we eat. They always provided us medications when we were ill. Medical professionals who visit from the terrorists’ side can treat us.

Unexpectedly, word of our departure from the camp arrived. We were instructed to begin packing by the terrorists. After a week of preparation, they finally asked us to move and turned us over to the Presidential Committee on the last day.